Think of your favorite character in literature, film, television, etc., or think of your favorite book or movie and consider the character that makes it your favorite. What qualities and values have given this character life? What draws you to this character’s identity? Is this character perfect with a life void of struggles and a flawless attitude, or has this character overcome problems and revealed quirks that produce an endearing individuality?

In William Blake’s Auguries of Innocence, he wrote:

Man was made for joy and woe,

And when this we rightly know,

Through the world we safely go.

Interesting characters often portray seeming paradoxes revealing the complicated condition of human nature. Our favorite characters are rarely perfect. They often wrestle with demons and defy expectations. They may be sinister beyond comprehension or strangely upbeat despite a dark past.

When not complex, the simple characters often convey deep messages and/or allow the reader/viewer to sincerely connect to strong emotions.For instance, Steinbeck used Lennie Small to demonstrate ironic powerlessness in Of Mice and Men and to provoke readers to be moved by his innocence; while physically strong, Lennie’s mental limitations render him defenseless and allow the reader to contact feelings of deep sympathy when he inevitably finds himself threatened.

Despite the fact we invite complicated and imperfect characters into our hearts, we rarely leave room for the idiosyncrasies that furnish our own identities. What facets of your personality would make you a remarkable protagonist? We often share the same quirks and imperfections as our favorite characters, yet we generally re-label these traits as flaws or defects. Furthermore, perfect characters are seldom remembered.

Returning to the excerpt from Blake’s poem, individuals often desire a life of joy and happiness; however, the woeful side of the spectrum inevitably arises. Blake reminds the reader that true humanity embraces pleasure and pain, and the acceptance of both can create a more fulfilling journey. Memorable characters generally epitomize the human nature we so often try to reject in ourselves but accept in others.What if we recognized the qualities that would make us our own favorite character? Experiment with acknowledging these characteristics and accepting the important role they play in your own story.

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Author

Dr. Bridgett Ross is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and owner of Ross Psychology.

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